Today, the variety of antibiotics is simply amazing, there are drugs of a narrow and wide profile, which helps doctors save lives. But this is one side of the coin. The fact that many pharmacies sell these drugs without prescriptions cannot be denied. At the same time, people save time and money on visiting a doctor, and according to the instructions they select a medicine for themselves and start taking it. Of course, in some cases, the condition is alleviated, but this does not mean that the cause is eliminated. Perhaps you just muffled the disease, and soon it will return again, and the same drug will most likely not bring the desired effect.
Antibiotics for expectant mothers
However, today we will not talk about the benefits and harms of antimicrobials in general. Our task is a little narrower and at the same time more complicated. We want to know if antibiotics can be taken during pregnancy (2nd trimester). This topic will never lose its relevance, since a woman carrying a baby is much more at risk of developing a particular disease, because the immune system is greatly weakened.
Among the huge list of antibiotics that exist today, there are enough drugs that are approved for use, since their effect on the body is not dangerous for the child. However, there are those whose reception can lead to the most sad consequences. Therefore, without consulting a doctor, it is impossible to choose antibiotics during pregnancy. The 2nd trimester is the period when the placenta is already included in the work, which protects the baby from a number of viruses and bacteria, as well as drugs that can not overcome this barrier. In addition, all vital organs have already been formed, which means that the likelihood of congenital anomalies is minimized.
What is the choice based on?
First of all, you need to assess the condition of the mother, the period, identify the causative agents of the disease, choose drugs that can help in this case, and, finally, do not forget about the risk to the child. Only by weighing all these factors, you can choose the safest antibiotics during pregnancy. The 2nd trimester in this regard is more favorable, as it gives doctors greater scope for choosing drugs. Until 12 weeks, almost all drugs were banned, therefore, if there is no urgent need, doctors try to reach this deadline, and then take up treatment.
Typically, each antibiotic acts on a specific group of microbes. Traditionally, doctors divide them into three large groups:
- Natural - "Penicillin" and its derivatives.
- Semi-synthetic ("Amoxicillin", "Cefazolin").
- Synthetic (sulfonamides).
In order to choose effective antibiotics during pregnancy (2 trimester), it is extremely important to have a complete understanding of the causative agent of the disease. By checking its sensitivity to a particular drug, we can offer the optimal treatment regimen. And only if this is impossible or the situation requires immediate intervention, a broad-spectrum antibiotic is prescribed.
Dosage for expectant mother
It was not for nothing that we decided to dwell on this moment. Very often, taking antibiotics during pregnancy frightens women, and, despite the appointment of the attending physician, they reduce the dose so as not to harm the baby. In fact, the dosage for the expectant mother is no different from the usual. It is designed to suppress microbial reproduction as efficiently as possible. Reducing the dose can lead to the fact that they have time to adapt and treatment will not give the desired effect. Therefore, do not experiment with your health and act strictly on the recommendation of a specialist.
Antibiotics for prevention
Another common belief is that broad-spectrum antimicrobials (or those prescribed to someone from the family) can be taken in case of any ailment in order to prevent the situation from worsening. In fact, the question of whether it is possible to drink antibiotics during pregnancy is much more complicated. The answer to it is something like this: not all and not always. Such an appointment should be entirely justified and appropriate. Therefore, tests are first taken, and only then, on the basis of this, the doctor makes a decision.
When is antimicrobial therapy ineffective?
As we already understood, this group of drugs is prescribed for one purpose, namely, to destroy the microbes that enter the body and prevent their further reproduction. Also, therefore, even young specialists sometimes doubt how to correctly answer the question of whether it is possible to drink antibiotics during pregnancy. You can, but only if you are sure that the symptoms are not caused by viruses.
Antibiotics will not help a pregnant woman in the following cases:
- With the flu, acute respiratory viral infections. They are caused by viruses, against which even the most modern antibiotic is powerless. However, it is sometimes difficult to determine what causes symptoms such as a runny nose and cough. Therefore, the practical experience of the doctor is important here.
- At elevated temperatures, antimicrobials will have neither an antipyretic nor anesthetic effect. Therefore, they must be combined with other drugs.
- In inflammatory processes, since the antibiotic does not have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Most often, when coughing, it makes no sense to prescribe drugs in this group. Only in rare cases when it is caused by the activity of microorganisms can antimicrobial agents help.
- There is another group of diseases in which antibiotics during pregnancy are ineffective (2 trimester). In case of poisoning, when the only symptom is an upset bowel, you do not need to use such serious drugs at all. It is enough to drink a lot of water (with Regidron), follow a sparing diet and, possibly, take a course of probiotics.
The popular Metronidazole
Today, many people have this medicine in first-aid kits, as it is relatively cheap and has a wide spectrum of action, that is, it helps with many diseases. However, for a future mother there should be only two guidelines - this is a possible benefit for herself and harm for the child. And only by comparing these two indicators, you can say for sure whether the drug is right for you.
Let us now say a few words about Metronidazole itself. Instructions for use (price, reviews about the drug are very attractive) emphasizes that in the first trimester the drug is strictly prohibited. If a woman took it on her own, termination of pregnancy may be recommended. Despite the fact that the drug is very effective in controlling bacteria, it penetrates the placental barrier to the fetus, which can lead to developmental pathologies.
In the second trimester, an appointment is possible, but with great care. And again, only the doctor should determine that you can take Metronidazole. Instructions for use (price, reviews, of course, stimulate the desire to use this drug and restore health, it costs only 25 rubles) tells us that a single dosage can help cope with a number of diseases, however, a high concentration of the active substance in the blood can lead to to its entry into the fetus, which can affect development. And at normal doses for 7 days, the risk of premature birth increases.
Treatment for pyelonephritis
The most common pathology during pregnancy. Moreover, most often until the 12th week the state of the genitourinary system is relatively normal, however, as the baby grows, the load on the kidneys increases. If the results of urine tests show that the situation is already out of control, then urgent measures must be taken. Treatment of infection during pregnancy most often goes in two directions. A nephrologist tells a woman about a drinking regimen (sometimes this is a limitation, but in most cases they can do without it), she recommends drinking cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks, as well as decoctions of medicinal herbs.
However, these are only auxiliary means that will prevent the deterioration of the situation in the future. In the meantime, it is extremely important to conduct antimicrobial therapy. Allowed antibiotics during pregnancy (2nd trimester) are Ampicillin, Methicillin, Kanamycin, and cephalosporin group drugs.
Problem number 2 - cystitis
Also a popular ailment among expectant mothers. And he is also quite dangerous. Inflammation inside the bladder is also dangerous because the process is easily able to pass into the uterus. This greatly complicates the course of pregnancy, and can also harm the fetus. As a rule, the choice of doctors in this case is quite narrow. Amoxiclav or Monural is prescribed. Most often, the choice falls on the second because of the wide spectrum of action and effectiveness of this tool.
Angina
Extremely serious complication, which is desirable to prevent. A common cold against a background of reduced immunity causes an exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases. What should a woman do? At the first sign of malaise, you should immediately consult a doctor. If there are precursors of the development of angina, then treatment should be started immediately and always under the supervision of a doctor. The consequences of negligence in this case can be the most serious. Intoxication and fever can lead to fetal hypoxia or miscarriage.
What are the recommended antibiotics for sore throat during pregnancy (2 trimester)? In most cases, these are local drugs that are used directly in the focus of inflammation. This is "Grammidin", "Bioparox" and a number of other sprays that are allowed from the 13th week. In addition, it is recommended to gargle with a solution of "Furacilin", salt and soda at least once every 60 minutes. And of course, observe bed rest.
If the patient is admitted in serious condition
If at the time of going to the doctor the woman already has a high fever and severe sore throat, then rinsing is indispensable. For a period of 13 weeks or more, the list of approved drugs is already quite large, and the doctor will have plenty to choose from. What antibiotics are allowed?
- Penicillin series - according to the results of studies, these drugs do not affect the quality and development of the child. This group includes Ampicillin, Oxacillin, Amoxicillin, etc.
- Cephalosporins are modern drugs that easily defeat penicillin-resistant microbes. They penetrate the placental barrier, but do not have a toxic effect on the baby. These include ceftriaxone, suprax, cefazolin.
- Macrolide series - "Erythromycin", "Sumamed" and other analogues. Application is permissible at the discretion of the doctor in certain cases.
- "Gentamicin" - only in the most difficult cases, the doctor can choose this drug. Dosage is selected strictly individually.
Prohibited Pregnancy Antibiotics
On the one hand, this information may seem redundant. And so it is clear that self-medication is unacceptable, which means that follow the recommendations of a specialist, he knows for sure that you should not use. However, for general familiarization, we present a list of medicines that need to be removed from the first-aid kit, if you have them at home:
- The very first group is tetracyclines. They not only have toxic effects on the embryo, but can also accumulate in the baby’s bone system.
- The sulfanilamide series is Biseptol, with all its apparent safety, Oribact, and many others.
- Fluoroquinolone series - in fact, these drugs simply have not been tested, so no one can say for sure whether they are dangerous to the fetus. These are Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin.
- "Chloramphenicol" and its analogues may well provoke the development of some forms of anemia in the baby.
- "Furadonin", "Furazolidone" is in almost every medicine cabinet, but they are also able to cause anemia in the fetus.
The effect of antibiotics on pregnancy
Of course, it is best if the expectant mother does not get sick at all, then you will not have to find a compromise between the benefits for the mother and the risk for the baby. However, diseases come when you least expect them, which means it may happen that you also need antibiotics during pregnancy. The consequences for the fetus can be minimized with timely treatment by a woman and the competent appointment of a doctor.
However, one cannot say that antibiotics are good. In addition to the therapeutic effect, they have a number of undesirable. All medicines affect the liver and intestinal microflora, the immune system as a whole. All this can affect the overall health of a woman.
In general, the effect of antibiotic therapy on the baby is highly dependent on the timing of gestation. Until the 13th week, you need to try to avoid taking any drugs. Of course, if the question is about life and death, then the choice is obvious. Later, the fetus is protected by the placenta, which means that many drugs cannot pass this barrier.
Instead of a conclusion
As you can see, with proper use, antibiotics during pregnancy (2 trimester) can be loyal friends. The consequences (reviews repeatedly emphasize that, after a course of treatment, women gave birth to healthy children on time) can be negative, but most often this happens in cases of self-medication. A competent doctor will select the safest remedy and an adequate dosage and monitor the condition of the pregnant woman. In this case, treatment will be exclusively beneficial.